The biomechanical themes in the work of artist and designer H.R. Giger – who died Monday at the age of 74 – suited science fiction well. One of his most enduring creations, the xenomorph from the Ridley Scott movie Alien, earned him an Academy Award in 1980, and his style has influenced countless science fiction artists and writers. His vision for the Batmobile, however, didn’t quite pan out.

Looking to take the early 1990s Batman movie franchise in a different direction from the two previous Tim Burton films, Warner Brothers reconsidered just about ever aspect of the movies, replacing the director, screenwriter, lead actor, score, and what is probably the most important element of any Batman film – the Batmobile. In early discussions for the film, Warner Brothers turned to Giger to design the latter, and Giger returned a series of sketches of a Batmobile like nobody had ever before seen.

Generally laid out in an X shape, the designs took on many of Giger’s biomechanical themes, not only in aesthetics, but also in function. Giger envisioned that this new Batmobile would pivot at the center and the two ends of it would close and open like giant mandibles. To facilitate the pincer-like action, which would be essential for changing direction, the Batmobile would use six or eight spherical and omnidirectional wheels. Batman would have apparently drove the Giger Batmobile from a pod in the center of the X, but Giger didn’t appear to include a powerplant or drive system (electric hybrid? hydraulic?). He did, however, envision plenty of armaments for the Batmobile, including gatling gun-toting pods on both sides.

Needless to say, Warner Brothers balked at the concept. Studio executives wanted a more family-friendly (and box office-friendly) tone and look to the Batman franchise after the darker tone of the prior two films, so director Joel Schumacher hired designer Barbara Ling to come up with a more conventional Batmobile for Batman Forever. Tim Flattery, who headed up the Batman Forever Batmobile design for Ling, said that he did take inspiration in part from Giger, evident in the biomechanical themes pasted atop what was essentially an evolution of the Burton Batmobiles.

And though it might not have been exactly what Schumacher wanted, Giger’s Batmobile concept – with its unconventional design, forked front end, multitude of wheels, and shape-changing abilities – did appear to inspire the Nathan Crowley-designed Tumbler, the Batmobile used in the more recent Christopher Nolan Batman films. Crowley, however, maintains that he designed the Tumbler from scratch and appears to have never credited Giger.

12 Responses to “How the Batmobile would have looked in the hands of H.R. Giger”

There appears to have been some serious outside-the-box thinking on this Batmobile design, it’s too bad that it was never used for a movie. As wacky as some vehicles seem to be, 90% of them still have four wheels, four sides, windows, a roof, and they burn the same gas we’ve been burning for well over a hundred years. I think it’s a shame that there hasn’t really been anything so far out there to make a dent in vehicle design or propulsion since, well, forever. I know that safety, mileage, and comfort have all been vastly improved over the years, but still.. four doors, four wheels, burning gas.. Jet pack needed: ASAP.

I once read an interview with Giger. At the end of the interview they asked him what frightened him. His response, in a Swiss accent, was just: “Worms.” He had a unique perspective and talent. Very sad he won’t be making any more art.

I recommend watching the making of Jodorowski’s Dune – a recent underground film. Giger was assigned to design the villainous planet in this Dune that never materialized. The “Dune” we know came after this. Dali was the emperor of the universe. What makes it so interesting is that this movie, which never came to fruition, influenced science fiction and advanced design for years after it was conceived.

Fusing the erotic, gothic and surreal Giger was an art movement unto himself. He inspired me from an early age with his fantastic dreamscapes and esoteric imagery. I was compelled to illustrate a tribute to him this week drawing imagery from his own works including Alien and the Birthing Machine at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2014/05/in-memoriam-hr-giger.html . Drop by and share how his artwork opened your own mind!